Trump trade chief Greer speaks with Squawk Box as tariff threats rise

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to speak with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Thursday morning, a week after a blue-wave election in which most voters said President Donald Trump‘s controversial tariff policies have made the economy worse.

The import duties, which have ignited trade wars with multiple U.S. economic partners, will likely be a top target for Democrats once they take majority control of the House and Senate. Some of Trump’s largest and most divisive tariffs — including his sweeping Section 301 duties and the 50% tariffs he slapped on a bevy of Canadian goods — are already being challenged in multiple court cases.

Trump and his administration have defended tariffs in the wake of Republicans’ devastating midterm losses. Greer’s office is currently conducting an investigation into foreign excess capacity in the manufacturing sector, which could lead to additional tariffs.

Greer has also been embroiled in the unfolding infidelity and national security scandal around Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Axios reported that Greer was present in the White House Situation Room last Thursday when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick why he has resisted implementing export controls, especially on Megaspeed, the company at the center of the sex-and-spy scandal.

Greer and other Cabinet officials supported the controls, and Trump said, “Let’s get it done,” but Lutnick has continued to delay, Axios reported. Commerce Department spokeswoman Kristen Eichamer told CNBC that Bessent and Lutnick had “no such conversation” in the Situation Room.

This is developing news. Please check back for updates.